It’s been a rough few days for USC tight end Dale Thompson. He got pulled from the Arizona State game after two false starts and discovered earlier this week that he broke his right hand.

The injury limited Thompson’s practice time Thursday and he’s expected to play a small role on Saturday against Arizona.

“I can’t really block as well,” Thompson said. “They haven’t said I can’t play but it’s kind of hard hanging on to people. I’m kind of limited with the cast.”

Thompson is officially behind starter Dominique Byrd on the depth chart, but he played the entire second half of the Hawaii game and significant portions against Arkansas and Oregon because the Trojans often used two tight ends.

With Thompson slowed by injury, sophomore Fred Davis is expected to be the No. 2 tight end on Saturday. Some within the program believe Davis outplayed Byrd in blocking situations last weekend.

No celebrating: Defensive end Lawrence Jackson said he is going to try not to celebrate after tackles or sacks against Arizona. Jackson said on-field displays are not his style, after he celebrated several plays against Arizona State.

“I’m going to play my game. Just go out and make plays,” Jackson said. “It’s something that just happens when you make a play, it feels good, but you don’t want to get excessive.

“Sometimes I make a play and it’s hard to walk away. But you need to be able to balance the fine line between celebrating and taunting.”

No Lachey: Receiver Dwayne Jarrett denied rumors that singer/actor Nick Lachey, who is married to singer/actress Jessica Simpson, moved into the apartment he shares with Matt Leinart.

“Some people were asking me about that today but it’s just me and Matt,” Jarrett said.

If Lachey did move in, it would be a tight fit, since Leinart and Jarrett share a two-bedroom apartment in downtown Los Angeles.

More substitutions: Carroll said he wants to use more players against Arizona than he did last week. The primary example is an increased role for receiver Patrick Turner, but he also wants to see more offensive and defensive linemen play along with linebackers Rey Maualuga and Ryan Powdrell.

“I hope we can get going with our normal rotations, it just helps us down the road,” Carroll said. “Rey’s been great in practice and we need to see him play. We need to get these guys into the rotation.”

Carlson slowed: Receiver Greig Carlson remains out with an athletic hernia and Carroll doesn’t know when he might return.

“He’s struggling, he hasn’t been able to get out there,” Carroll said. “He’s having a hard time.”

Ready to play? Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said he was encouraged by the response of sophomore quarterback John David Booty following the Arizona State game, when Leinart briefly came out following a concussion.

“He came up to me on the bus afterward and said, ‘Coach, I felt it today. I would have done great,’ ” Kiffin said. “That really made me feel good.”